Unique and All Natural Wool Characteristics

Sheep arrive with their houses on their back. This is due to wool
characteristics that also serve to make it the most unique, completely
natural and multipurpose fiber available.

Sheep wool has the capability to keep the body at at even temperature because it does not trap heat, it insulates instead. This means that in hot weather it
keeps the animal (or you) cool and in cold weather it keeps them (or
you) warm.

Wool clothing does not cling to the skin
like rayons or nylons and even cottons do. This allows for air
circulation next to your skin and is part of the insulation properties
and comfort of wearing wool.

It readily absorbs water and can also release it.
Again it does not trap. For sheep this prevents moisture from being
held at the skin. It prevents the clammy, cold feeling you may
experience when wearing some types of synthetic clothing and sweating.
Because of this feature though, it also dries out slowly.

It is naturally fire resistant meaning it does not readily burn. This feature is what makes wool attractive as an insulating material in homes.

Strands of wool are crimped
(imagine your hair crimped with a crimping iron - wool does that
naturally). Due to having crimp wool has the ability to stretch and then
return to it's natural length. This elasticity is a very promising
feature that we can not achieve with any other synthetic material. It is
what makes the fiber strong and durable.

Felting
is the nature of most animal fur that allows it to entangle and form
mats of fabric. The fibers (strands) can interlock with each other due
to ridges on the individual fibers. Sheep wool is highly regarded for
its ability to felt and form fabrics that are near impossible to tear. Felting
is the wool characteristic that causes your wool sweater to shrink each
time you wash it in warm or hot soapy water and subject it to to rough
treatment (ie the washing machine).

Sheep wool is very strong and durable
partly due to it's felting feature. The fibers are strong and will hold
together through much twisting and turning, much like a lock of hair.
This feature is what creates such long lasting garments.

The fibers readily accept dye colors.
The natural off-white raw color is highly preferred due to its ability
to take on color with ease. The product can be easily dyed with natural
flower dyes. In contrast synthetic fibers are not dyed easily and will
require harsher chemical dyes to change their color.